WASHINGTON – The FBI is warning Android owners to beware of malware that is targeting the operating system.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center says Android users will receive a message promising lucrative pay for sending emails from home. If a user clicks on a link called “Loozon,” the malware will steal the user’s address book and phone number.

“FinFisher” is another malware that can be transmitted to Androids when the user visits a hyperlink or opens a text message that look like a system update. The spyware can control and monitor the phone no matter where the user is located, according to the center.

A recent study by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the security firm McAfee says one out of every four Americans had personal identification lost or stolen due to a data breach in the past year.

To protect personal data, the Internet Crime Complaint Center recommends installing malware protection apps or antivirus software. Click here for additional safety tips.

WTOP’s Hank Silverberg contributed to this report. Follow Hank Silverberg and WTOP on Twitter.

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